Nick Barmby has lost his appeal against the decision to sack him as Hull manager.

Tigers chairman Assem Allam has backed the verdict of vice-chairman and son Ehab Allam to dispose of Barmby's services earlier this month.

Sacked: Barmby has lost his appeal against his sacking

Barmby was initially suspended on April 30 over comments made about the npower Championship club's finances and a lack of funds made available to strengthen during the January transfer window.

It was announced on May 8 that Barmby had been sacked after six months in charge of his hometown outfit, a decision the 38-year-old subsequently appealed.

But that has been rejected by Assem Allam following a hearing between him and Barmby.

End of the road: Barmby was a fans' favourite

A full statement from Assem Allam on the Hull Daily Mail website read:

'Having heard Nick Barmby's internal appeal and following a full review of the facts during a detailed and thorough meeting with him, I have decided to uphold the vice chairman's decision to dismiss Nick for the reasons previously stated.

'I would like to assure the club's supporters that this decision has not been taken lightly and all other options were explored before I decided to uphold the dismissal.

'However, as explained in the press statement given by the vice chairman, Nick's behaviour has led to the breakdown of trust and confidence with the board and I therefore felt I had no other option particularly given his senior position at the club.

'Nick was a fantastic player for the club and a local hero to the club's supporters.

'It is an extremely unfortunate end to a great period with the club although the club would like the supporters to remember Nick for his playing career and the part he played in the club's promotions.'

Barmby first joined Hull as a player in 2004 and combined that with a coaching role at the KC Stadium in 2010 under then boss Nigel Pearson.

The former England striker took over as player/caretaker manager in November 2011 following Pearson's move to Leicester, announcing his retirement from the professional game in January before taking the reins on a permanent basis later that month.

Former Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is firm favourite to now replace Barmby.

Barmby was suspended last month pending an internal investigation by owners, Assem and Ehab Allam.

The former England international, who has been in charge since Nigel Pearson's return to Leicester in November, questioned the Allam family's ambitions in a local newspaper article after narrowly missing out on the play-offs.

Ehab Allem, vice-chairman of the Tigers, released a statement on the club's website.

The statement read: 'Following recent speculation in the media Hull City can now confirm that following a brief period of suspension Nick Barmby has today been dismissed from his role as first-team manager of the club with immediate effect.

'The reason for the dismissal relates to certain comments made by Nick in recent interviews. The comments concerned were wholly misleading and implied that the board had not made funds available to Nick to strengthen the first-team squad during the January transfer window.

'Such is not only completely untrue, the comments made by Nick contradicted the board's publicly stated position that funds would be made available to Nick during the January transfer window.

'As stated in previous interviews, the board accepted every transfer request from Nick and in fact actively encouraged him to strengthen the squad should he feel it was necessary.

'The board consider the comments made by Nick unjustifiably cast public doubt on the honesty and integrity of the board and its members.

'The relationship between the team manager and the board is of prime importance to the success of any football club.

'In making the comments Nick made, he completely undermined the trust and confidence that needs to exist between the team manager and the board.

'The club sincerely hopes that its fans will recognise that the decision to dismiss Nick was not taken lightly. The decision was taken following meetings with Nick where he had every opportunity to state his case and make representations.

'The club feels that it has treated Nick entirely fairly and in the same way that it would have treated any other employee in the same situation.

'Having been prepared to give Nick his first opportunity in football management, and for it to end like this, has been a particular disappointment to the board.

'Notwithstanding the circumstances of this 'parting of the ways' the board wish Nick every success in his future career and thank him for the service he has provided to the club since his return to his home town in 2004.

'The club can confirm that the search for a new manager will begin immediately.'